Cigarette box



Patented Sept. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in receptacles and isparticularly directed to a box for containing perishable articles suchas cigarettes, or the like. Y

An ob-ject of the invention is to provide a box for perishable articleshaving improved structural features which offer unobstructedaccessibility to the box receptacle andwhich upon end for end rotationof the box case has structure which cooperates with the flat supportingsurface of the box to provide an airtight and dustproof compartment forthe articles in the receptacle,

Another object of the invention is to provide improved features for acase and a pivoted receptacle therefor which precludes excessive rockingmovement of the receptacle and serves lto maintain said receptacle in ahorizontal position regardless of the character of the rotationalmovement of the case about the pivotal axis, and which is especiallyuseful when the receptacle is in its accessible position so thatarticles may be easily grasped and removed therefrom,

A further object of the invention is to provide a cigarette box whichoffers exterior surfaces for decorative purposes in its closed, invertedposition and which presents its contents for ready accessibility in itsopen position.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specication anddrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my cigarette box in position for readyaccess to the contents thereof.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental, perspective view of my box in closed position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken through the transversecenter of the box illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional vieW taken through thelongitudinal center of the box shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through the transverse center ofthe box illustrated in Fig. 2, the dotted lines illustrating anintermediate, operative position of the box.

The embodiment of my invention consists of a cigarette box 8 comprisingan outer case 9, having side Walls I and I I, end Walls I2 and I3, andan interconnected bottom I4. As illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, thebottom I4 of the outer case normally rests upon a at supporting surfaceI5 so that an opposed open side I 6 is in an upturned position for readyaccess to the interior of the case.

An open topped receptacle I1 is disposed Within the case and consists offlat end Walls I8 and I9 and side Walls 20 and 2I having their outersurfaces transversely curved as is indicated by the reference numeral22. The receptacle has a bottom 23 which is connected to the lower endsof the Walls and upon which cigarettes 24 or other perishable articlesmay rest.

The receptacle is main-tained in substantially horizontal positionregardless of the rotational movement of the case by means of pivot pins25 and 25 which are respectively anchored in and extend horizontallyfrom the side walls I2 and I3 and freely engage bearings 21 and 28anchored in the side Walls I8 and I9 respectively of the receptacle(Fig. 4). These pivot pins are in axial alignment and are disposedparallel to the longitudinal dimensions of the case and the receptacle.As most clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, the pins are also located at thetransverse centers of the receptacle side Walls and are also disposedabove the center of gravity of the receptacle by mounting a Weightedplate 29 beneath the bottom 23 of the receptacle by means of nails 30,or the like.

It will be noted that the open topped receptacle Il' is pivotallymounted Within the case adjacent the open side I6 so that the faces ofthe openings in the case and the receptacle are disposed in oifset,parallel planes. This position of the receptacle Within the caseprotects it from accidental Contact with moving objects, or the like topreclude rocking or tipping of the receptacle and the receptacle is alsomounted near, or adjacent to the open side of the case to permit readyaccess to the contents therein.

To form a closed compartment for the receptacle, the case 9 is manuallyrotated in a transverse plane of the pivotal axis between the case andthe receptacle, as is indicated by arrows in Fig. 3. When this rotationhas been manually carried through the open top assumes a position torest upon the supporting surface I5. The flat surface therefore sealsoff the opening IS in the case and cuts oil the entrance of air andforeign materials into the compartment. The closed position of the caseis illustrated in Figs, 2 and 5, and it Will be noted that the exterior,uninterrupted surfaces of the case are particularly adaptable fordecorative purposes.

What is claimed, is:

'A cigarette box comprising a hollow, manually rotatable closure memberhaving side Walls, end Walls, a bottom, and a normally upturned openside opposed to said bottom, a shallow pendulous cigarette containerdisposed Within the closure member and having side walls, flat endWalls, a bottom Wall, and an open top opposed to said bottom Wall, theedges of said open sides being normally positioned in offset parallelplanes with the container in accessible position, axially Valigned,closed journal bearings between adjacent side Walls of the container andclosure member, the axis of said bearings being disposed parallelto thecommon longitudinal dimension of the closure memberrand thecontainer'and located at the transverse center of the container sidewalls and above the center of gravity of said container, said journalbearings being spaced inwardly from the edge of the open side of the`closure member a distance at least equal tothe distance between thejournal bearing and-the'bottom-f said container, whereby upon'vmanualro-tation of the closure member about the longitudinal dimension, saidclosure member revolves around the container and the open side of themember forms with the box supporting surface a closed VBarnstead July27, 1920

